Expert: Chicago not for elephants

A top research scientist at a national park in Kenya told City Council committee members Thursday that Chicago could never provide elephants the kind of habitat they need to be healthy and happy.

"In captivity, elephants become dysfunctional," said Joyce Poole, research director for the Amboseli Elephant Research Project. "In the wild, there are no foot or weight problems, there is no swaying back and forth, and there is no problem conceiving."

Poole, whose appearance was sponsored by People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals and In Defense of Animals, spoke during a hearing for two ordinances that recommend increasing the amount of space in Chicago zoos or for circuses traveling through Chicago.

The ordinances call for 5 acres indoors and 5 acres outdoors per elephant, more than the U.S. Department of Agriculture and American Zoo and Aquarium Association say elephants should have. "We are months away from bringing this before the City Council," said Ald. Mary Ann Smith (48th), the committee chairwoman. "We don't deal with elephant issues on a day-to-day basis in our neighborhoods, and we want to dig deeper into the issues."

Officials at the Lincoln Park Zoo say they have already begun looking into the issues Poole brought up because three elephants--Tatima, Peaches and Wankie--have died at the zoo since October. Jane Ballentine, spokeswoman for the American Zoo and Aquarium Association, disagreed with Poole.

"It's all the same arguments I've heard before from animal-rights activists," she said. "Obviously, she's a very well-respected scientist. But there are no definitive studies to say what space is enough."